WAIRE Program Compliance: How Warehouses and Fleets Can Earn Points and Cut Costs (SCAQMD Rule 2305)

Written By Xos Team

If you operate a warehouse of 100,000 square feet or more in Southern California, If you operate a warehouse of 100,000 square feet or more in Southern California, SCAQMD Rule 2305 — the WAIRE Program — is already costing you money, or it will. Facilities across Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange County must earn WAIRE Points every year, and missing your target means paying mitigation fees of up to $1,000 per point. The program targets emissions from commercial truck traffic — and meeting that obligation is more complex than it sounds.

Learn how to comply smarter, sidestep utility delays, and transform a regulatory requirement into a lasting operational advantage.

How Is Your WAIRE Compliance Obligation Calculated?

Every covered warehouse must meet an annual WAIRE Points Compliance Obligation (WPCO). There are two ways to calculate it, and the one you choose can make a significant difference in what you owe.

  • WATTs Method (Weighted Annual Truck Trips): Your obligation is based on the actual number and class of trucks visiting your facility. Reflecting   real operational activity, slower periods automatically reduce your point requirements, and every zero-emission (ZE) truck visit earns you points toward your compliance goal.

  • Square Footage Method: This calculates your obligation based purely on facility size, regardless of truck traffic. It is simpler, but usually results in a much higher, fixed compliance cost, making it the less favorable option for most operators.

For the vast majority of Southern California warehouse operators, the WATTs method is the smarter, more cost-effective choice.

How to Earn WAIRE Points, And What Each Action Is Worth

Investing in zero-emission solutions isn't just an environmental initiative — it's a direct way to avoid significant fees. Here's what each action is worth:

  • Acquire a ZE Class 6 or 7 Truck, equivalent to  $68,000 in avoided fees (68 Points)

  • 365 ZE Class 6/7 Truck Visits, equivalent to $12,000 in avoided fees (12 Points)

  • 150-350 kW EVSE Acquisition and Finalization, equivalent to $186,000 in avoided fees (186 Points)

How to Bank and Share WAIRE Points Across Facilities

Acting early pays off, the WAIRE Program lets you extend the value of a single investment across multiple sites and multiple years.

  • Bank Points for Up to 3 Years: If you earn more WAIRE Points than your annual obligation requires, you don't lose them. Surplus points can be banked and applied to your WPCO for up to three subsequent compliance years. 

  • Share Credits Across Warehouses: If you operate multiple covered warehouses within the South Coast Air Basin, WAIRE Points earned at one facility can be applied to satisfy the WPCO at another.

How Xos Helps You Fast-Track WAIRE Compliance

Most operators know they need EV charging infrastructure (EVSE) to meet their obligation, but traditional fixed installations can take 12 to 24 months due to utility delays, trenching, and permitting. Xos solves both problems at once:

  • The Xos Hub: Our mobile energy storage and charging solution deploys in days, not years. No trenching, no utility upgrades, no lengthy permitting. It qualifies for the EV Charging Infrastructure menu action, so  you start earning points immediately. And because it requires no permanent construction, it's ideal for leased facilities too.

  • Xos Electric Trucks:  Every Xos Stepvan and MDXT you purchase or lease earns points upon acquisition, and keeps  earning  with every qualifying zero emission truck visit thereafter.

READY TO BUILD YOU

The earlier you deploy zero-emission solutions, the more points you can bank for future years.

Xos Team
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